MN Underclass Prospect Games: Pitching Analysis

August 19, 2015

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

The Prep Baseball Report Minnesota's Underclass Prospect Games took place on July 1st, 2015 at Seibert Field on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The showcase featured prospects from the 2017 and 2018 class who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff, college coaches, and professional scouts.

Today we unveil our position by position analysis with pitchers. When we create this list we evaluate the overall package of abilities along with future projection at the college level.

The top pitching prospect at this year's MN Underclass Prospect Games is Rosemount's Griffin Lanoue. Lanoue has athleticism on the mound combined with a fast arm, ability to throw strikes, steep downhill plane on his fastball, and flashes a knockout breaking ball to finish batters.

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Top pitching Prospects

1. Griffin Lanoue, RHP/SS, Rosemount, 2017
6-foot-3, 170-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Lean, loose, athletic body. Explosive delivery to plate with moderate effort. Good arm speed. Hear seams cutting air to plate. Hard downhill plane on lively fastball at 83-85 mph. 12/6 breaking ball with sharp late break for strikes. Changeup is firm and heavy in zone. Athletic player who projects to be one of better arms in 2017 class. Creates bat speed. Over active load effects timing. Middle/pull approach with solid contact and flashes of power to gaps. 88 mph exit velocity. Good athlete in field with ability to cover ground. Glove is average. Long release with clean arm action and accuracy to bag. Above avg. arm strength at 86 mph across infield.

2. Sam Thoresen, OF/RHP, Minnetonka, 2017
6-foot-2, 170-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Small leg kick. Shows strength in swing. Strides across; cutting off lower half. Has pop to middle of field. 78 mph exit velocity off tee. Shows good feet and actions in outfield. Arm action is long and clean with plus accuracy and carry to target. 86 mph arm strength. Projectable body and arm action on mound. Has added strength to lower half. Fastball has 2-seam life for strikes at 82-85 mph. Solid breaking ball at 70-73 mph. Changeup was 75-76 mph for strikes. Continues to make strides in game. Strong Follow as he enters junior season.

3. Max Meyer, SS/RHP, Woodbury, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. High hands. Works down and through ball. Deep load effects timing occasionally. Lower half works in swing. Projectable hitting tools with added maturity/strength. 78 mph exit velocity. Above average feet and hands. Low slot with quick release. Solid actions in middle infield. 80 mph arm strength across diamond. Good athlete on mound. Pause in delivery. Hides ball well. Creates deception. Throws strikes for days. Fastball is 80-83 mph and repeats to glove side extremely well. Breaking ball has 11/5 shape with sweeping action to plate at 70-73 mph. Maintains arm speed and throws above average changeup at 73-74 mph with good fade.

4. Jordan Schramel, OF/RHP, Delano, 2017
6-foot, 178-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. High hands. Works down and through baseball at contact. Some collapse on back-side losing power. Flashes power to gaps with pop in bat. 83 mph exit velocity. Good actions in outfield. Arm is fast with above average carry and accuracy to target. 85 mph arm strength. Collapse at balance point. Works uphill to start. Arm is fast enough to get out front. Fastball has solid life with plus command to glove side of plate at 80-84 mph. Breaking ball has 12/6 shape with avg. break at 69-70 mph. Solid arm action on changeup with minimal action at 72-74 mph.

5. Avery Stevens, RHP, Sleepy Eye, 2018
6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. Surprise pop-up pitcher at event. Tuck and turn delivery. Arm is clean with solid hand speed. Long stride- loses lower half power at foot strike. Fastball has life at 79-82 mph with solid command. 11/5 breaking ball with above average depth. Changeup has hard sink at finish at 74-76 mph. Body projects to get stronger- fastball should continue to improve- and has feel for 2 secondary pitches.

6. Zach Smith, C/RHP, Rochester John Marshall, 2017
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Crouched stance. Heel turn trigger. Flat bat path. Rotational weight. Shows pop to gaps with solid extension through ball. 84 mph exit velocity. Blocks balls in front well. Limited lateral movement. Average flexibility. Plays with energy. Average receiver. Good direction to 2B. Quick exchange and release. 75 mph arm strength with 2.05 pop time. Drop and drive delivery. Faster arm on mound. Fastball is mostly straight for strikes at 80-84 mph. Tends to slow arm on breaking ball but flashes solid break with 11/5 shape at 65-67 mph. Good arm action on changeup with cutting action at 68-72 mph.

7. Matt Brooks, SS/RHP, Benilde St. Margaret’s, 2017
6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Quick hands. Creates bat speed. Needs to improve lower half in swing. Solid contact with middle/away approach. 84 mph exit velocity. ¾ slot with average arm action. Accurate throws. Will sit on balls occasionally. Solid actions overall. 78 mph arm strength across. Crouched delivery at balance point. Creates good arm speed. Stiff lower half in delivery. Fastball shows 2-seam life and commands inner half of plate well. Fastball was 81-83; touching 85 mph. Curveball was inconsistent with loose spin at 64-67 mph. Changeup thrown with solid arm speed with plus action as pitch bottoms out at the plate- 66-68 mph. Steadily gaining velocity and will be solid follow into junior season.

8. Nathan Berg, SS/RHP, New Prague, 2018
6-foot, 155-pound switch-hitting 2-way player. Leg kick load. Good hand path. Works direct/down/and through baseball at contact. Uses whole field with above average contact and line drive approach. 83 mph exit velocity. Shows above average feet, hands, and actions. Arm action is long and loose with solid accuracy across diamond. 75 mph arm strength from shortstop. Short clean arm action with flexible-loose body. Flat fastball that was elevated at times at 77-81 mph. 11/5 breaking ball with solid shape and depth. Changeup had above average fade and stayed in bottom of zone. Ability to play catch and showed plus command of 3 pitches to glove side of plate. High follow in 2018 class.

9. TJ Truso, SS/RHP, Holy Family Catholic, 2018
5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Pre-loaded hands. Strides to contact. Stays inside ball well. Middle/away approach with line drive swing plane and solid contact. 79 mph exit velocity off tee. Average actions in field. Glove is solid. Clean exchanges. Arm action is clean. Release is long at times. 68 mph arm strength across infield. Simple tuck and turn delivery. Plus command of 3 pitches- consistent quality strikes. Feel for all pitches. Fastball has occasional cut action at 77-80 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape with tight rotation. Good arm speed on changeup with downhill action and above average feel. High follow in 2018 class.

10. Zack Henderson, RHP/2B, Shakopee, 2017
5-foot-8, 155-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. High leg kick. Strides across. Cuts off hips. Arm is clean with pause in back. Fastball has cutting action at 77-79 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape with solid depth and flashes of sharp break at 70-73 mph. Keeps changeup in bottom of zone with solid arm speed at 72-74 mph. No stride. Deep load. Arm bar. Long path to contact. Leans back at contact. Solid contact. Pull approach. 82 mph exit velocity off tee. Solid actions in field. Shows average arm with accuracy to bag. Has ok athleticism with ability to make routine plays. 77 mph arm strength.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Jack Carlson, RHP, Minneapolis Washburn, 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed pitcher. Clean arm action from high ¾ slot. Good direction to plate. Lands closed locking hips and loses power. Fastball has cut action with life at 78-80 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape with average break at 67-70. Mixes in slider at 69-70 mph with similar action and 11/5 shape. Changeup was consistently thrown for strikes at 72-73 mph with solid arm speed.

Dawson Degnan, C/3B/RHP, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2017
6-foot, 170-pound left-handed hitting catcher/utility player. Quiet actions at plate. Length in load. Good bat path to ball. Works gaps well in approach. Solid contact with average power. 83 mph exit velocity off tee. Soft hands and receives well behind plate. Average blocker. 70 mph arm strength with 2.19 pop times. Solid/average actions at third base. Ability to make routine plays. Accurate arm with good carry to bag. 77 mph arm strength across. Solid athlete on mound. Fastball has cutting action at 71-74 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape with varying rotation speed thrown in bottom of zone. Changeup has wobbly action for strikes.

Luke DeGrammont, 1B/LHP, Lakeville North, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. Line drive swing plane. Uses hands well in swing. Tight lower half. Middle/pull approach. Average pop in bat. Solid contact. 89 mph exit velocity. Soft glove. Good direction with feet. Solid around bag. Arm is clean and makes accurate throws at 72 mph across infield. Up tempo delivery. Good body control. Short arm circle. Fastball shows cut action in bottom of zone at 71-75 mph. 12/6 breaking ball with solid shape and average depth on break. Changeup shows good action and fade at bottom of zone at 70-71 mph.

Danny Deis, SS/RHP, Wayzata, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Inverted C load. Solid bat path back to contact. Average bat speed. Gap to gap approach. 75 mph exit velocity off tee. Short clean arm action in OF with average carry and solid accuracy. Throws are online at 81 mph. Solid actions and arm strength in middle infield. Ability to make plays. Throws are accurate to bag with 81 mph arm strength. Short arm action on mound. Strikes with 3 pitches. Position player with ability to repeat mechanics on mound and play catch with glove. Fastball was 74-77 mph. 12/6 breaking ball at 63-66 mph. Changeup had solid fade with late sink in bottom of zone at 65-66 mph.

Nolan Glunz, SS/RHP, Woodbury, 2017
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Open stance with active trigger to swing. Lunges to contact. Low hand launch position with line-drive swing plane. Average pop in bat with middle/pull approach. 74 mph exit velocity off tee. Solid feet and glove. Works down to up. Low slot with short arm action on throws. 72 mph arm strength. Throws have accuracy to bag. Aggressive leg kick. Long stride. Limited arm extension to plate. Throws fastball for strikes with flat action at 73-79 mph. Curveball has 12/6 break with solid rotation at 64-67 mph. Changeup has solid fade with average arm speed at 63-65 mph.

Justin Mohlencamp, LHP, Coon Rapids, 2017
6-foot, 165-pound left-handed pitcher. Thin build. 2-piece arm action. Minimal use of lower half. Needs to improve mechanics. Strong command of fastball to arm side of plate at 68-69 mph. 1/7 breaking ball with average spin and break. Drops slot on changeup; wobbly action with occasional cut. Throws strikes. Burned through 2 innings in under 24 pitches. Lacks strength and requires improved mechanics. Commands zone well.

Mason Schwerzler, RHP/OF, Stillwater, 2018
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Small tuck and turn delivery. One-piece arm action. Fastball shows varying cut and run at 75-78 mph; topping out at 80 mph. Breaking ball 65-69 mph. Changeup had split action and tumbled to plate at 66-70 mph.Short stride. Rotational lower half. Gap to gap approach with solid contact and average pop in bat. 73 mph exit velocity off tee. Solid actions in outfield. Good glove and feet. Long 1-piece arm action. Throws are online with above average carry and accuracy.

Nate Shoemaker, OF/RHP, Minnetonka, 2017
6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Leans back at contact. Stiff lower half. Has strength. Rolls hands over early. Pull approach. 80 mph exit velocity. Aggressive routes with athletic actions. 2-piece arm action with average accuracy and solid arm strength. 84 mph arm strength. Controlled turn to balance point. Strides slightly across body. ¾ arm slot with solid sink and occasional cut to fastball at 77-81 mph. Throws breaking ball for strikes with above average rotation and 11/5 shape. Changeup has cut action with tumbling movement to plate at 73-74 mph.

Spencer Smith, 1B/RHP, Blaine, 2017
6-foot-4, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Average base. Needs to use lower half more in swing. Rotation/spin bat plane. Pull approach. Average contact. 77 mph exit velocity off tee. Good target. Needs improved footwork around bag. Shows ability to field and make routine plays. Arm is accurate at 69 mph. Drop and drive mechanics. Fastball was elevated and straight at 68-72 mph. 11/5 breaking ball with gradual break. Changeup thrown with solid arm speed; left short of plate. Split showed wobbly action at 61-62 mph.

Davis Solfelt, SS/RHP, Southwest Christian, 2018
6-foot-2, 155-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Stands up in swing. Loses lower half power. Inside/out swing plane. Uses whole field. Line drive contact with 70 mph exit velocity off tee. Average actions in field with long release on throws. Throws are accurate across diamond at 68 mph. Tall balance point with high leg kick. Falls out/over front side in stride. Fastball was straight at 71-73 mph with solid command. Drops arm slot on breaking ball; loose rotation with 10/4 shape at 60-65 mph. Throws an average changeup for strikes.

Nick Sturnieks, RHP/OF, Robbinsdale Armstrong, 2017
6-foot-5, 180-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. High leg kick. Solid direction to plate. Minimal use of lower half. Good run on fastball with downhill plane from OT slot at 73-79 mph. Showed above average of breaking ball with 12/6 shape and occasional depth. Wide set-up. Negative weight at contact. Loses power from lower half. Average pop in bat with middle/pull approach. 81 mph exit velocity. Shows average actions with ability to field cleanly with good mechanics. OT slot with 82 mph arm strength. Throws have carry and accuracy to target.

William Tzavaras, LHP/OF, St. Paul Harding, 2017
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Quicker arm action. Deceptive front side. Hides ball from hitter. Doesn’t have pinpoint command but stays around zone with 2 pitches. Fastball jumps on hitter with varying cut and sink action at 74-78 mph. 1/7 breaking ball with flashes of sharp break at 68-71 mph. Competitive on mound. Closed set-up. Leg kick into hard stride. Limited use of lower half. Average pop in bat with avg. solid contact. 78 mph exit velocity. Average actions in outfield. Fields ball on side of body. Clean arm action. Average accuracy on throws with tailing flight to target. 73 mph arm strength.

Bobby Wilson, RHP, Hopkins, 2018
6-foot-2, 175-pound right-handed pitcher. Simple mechanics. Good direction to plate. Lands slightly open. Lacks explosiveness in delivery. Fastball was straight at 68-73 mph. Varying 12/6-11/5 shape to breaking ball with loose gradual break. Change is thrown with stiff wrist, flat action, at 56-59 mph. Showed solid command of fastball to glove side of plate.

MN Underclass Prospect Games: Pitching Analysis

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